The Circadian Gene NPAS2 Act as a Putative Tumor Stimulative Factor for Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence indicates altered circadian rhythm represents a critical factor affecting carcinogenesis and tumor progression. The circadian gene neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2) constitutes a newly discovered prognostic biomarker. NPAS2 dysregulation is found in multiple malignancies, although its functions in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate NPAS2's roles in UCEC and to explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: NPAS2 transcription levels, patient prognosis, different clinical stages and target microRNAs in UCEC cases were comparatively assessed based on public databases, including UALCAN, GEPIA, TIMER, Kaplan-Meier plotter, starBase database, LinkedOmics and String. Then, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis were applied to analyze the expression of NPAS2 in UCEC tissue samples. CCK-8, clonogenic assay and flow cytometry were carried out for detecting cell viability, colony formation ability and cell apoptosis, respectively. RESULTS: NPAS2 was upregulated in tissue samples from UCEC cases compared with the corresponding control specimens. NPAS2 overexpression was associated with decreased overall (OS), disease free (DFS) and relapse free (RFS) survival in UCEC. In addition, NPAS2 overexpression was associated with clinical stage, tumor grade, estrogen receptor status, myometrial invasion in UCEC. Furthermore, NPAS2 knockdown or overexpression altered cell proliferation and apoptosis in UCEC. Moreover, NPAS2 showed significant negative correlations with miR-17-5p and miR-93-5p, and positive correlations with miR-106a-5p and miR-381-3p in UCEC. CONCLUSION: NPAS2 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics in UCEC and promotes proliferation and colony formation while inhibiting apoptosis. Finally, NPAS2 is associated with several miRNAs in UCEC.

Genomic characterization of Chinese ovarian clear cell carcinoma identifies driver genes by whole exome sequencing.

Little is known about the genetic alterations characteristic of ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC). Our aim was to identify targetable genomic alterations in this type of cancer. Forty-two OCCC formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples were analyzed by whole-exome sequencing (WES), and 74 FFPE tissue samples underwent targeted sequencing (TS) to confirm the relevant driver mutations. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assays. In the 42 samples, ARID1A (64.3%) and PIK3CA (28.5%) were frequently mutated, as were PPP2R1A (11.9%), PTEN (7.1%) and KRAS (4.8%), which have been reported in previous OCCC studies. We also detected mutations in MUC4 (28.6%), MAGEE1 (19%), and ARID3A (16.7%); associations with these genes have not been previously reported. The functional protein-activated pathways were associated with proliferation and survival (including the PI3K/AKT, TP53, and ERBB2 pathways) in 83% of OCCCs and with chromatin remodeling in 71% of OCCCs. Patients with alterations in MAGEE1 (64% in the targeted sequencing cohort) had worse clinical outcomes (log-rank p < 0.05). A functional study revealed that two MAGEE1 mutants, one lacking two MAGE domains and the other containing two MAGE domains, significantly decreased the proliferative capacity of OCCC cells. We successfully identified novel genetic alterations in OCCC using whole-exome sequencing and targeted sequencing of OCCC patient samples and potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of this malignancy.

MiR-486-5p Act as a Biomarker in Endometrial Carcinoma: Promotes Cell Proliferation, Migration, Invasion by Targeting MARK1.

BACKGROUND: miRNA expression acts as a potential biomarker in many diseases including endometrial carcinoma (EC). miR-486-5p dysregulation is observed in several tumor types, but the roles of miR-486-5p in EC are hardly ever studied. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the expression profile of miR-486-5p in tumor tissues and serum samples of patients with EC and explore the target prediction, function analysis and validation in immortal cell lines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 42 freshly paired EC tissues, the corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and serum samples were also collected from patients with EC, and 42 matched normal serum samples were included as control group. The level of miR-486-5p expression was tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation was determined by colony formation assay and CCK-8 assay. Furthermore, functional evaluation of miR-486-5p on migration was performed by wound-healing assay and invasion was estimated by transwell invasion assay. qRT-PCR, luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting (WB) were performed to verify the targeting of MARK1 by miR-486-5p. RESULTS: miR-486-5p was significantly up-regulated in EC tissues and serum samples, promoting the proliferation, migration and invasive activities of EC cells by targeting MARK1. CONCLUSION: These data indicated miR-486-5p as a novel molecular biomarker for diagnosing and treating EC, and MARK1 might act as a critical and functional target of miR-486-5p with the implications on cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness of EC tumor cells.

miR­455 targets FABP4 to protect human endometrial stromal cells from cytotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Oxidative stress and dysregulation of antioxidant systems are associated with various complications in pregnancy. Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease that affects women of reproductive age. Recent studies have indicated that oxidative stress may be involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. It has been reported that microRNAs can regulate the cellular response to oxidative stress, and mounting evidence indicates that fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) plays an essential role in the regulation of systemic redox capacity. In the present study, we demonstrated that miR­455 is a putative FABP4­targeting miRNA. A luciferase activity assay revealed that miR­455 can successfully bind to the 3'­UTR of FABP4. Overexpression of miR­455 led to the downregulation of FABP4 at both the mRNA and protein levels in a human endometrial stromal cell line. Then, the roles of miR­455 and FABP4 in oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in human endometrial stromal cells were examined. We found that ectopic expression of miR­455 protected cells from damage caused by H2O2. Further investigation found that forced expression of miR­455 reduced the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), while the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH­Px) were promoted. Silencing of FABP4 also generated cytoprotective effects against H2O2 in human endometrial stromal cells. Moreover, overexpression FABP4 abrogated the miR­455­mediated antioxidative stress effects in cells. Taken together, we propose that miR­455 protects human endometrial stromal cells from oxidative stress at least partly via regulation of FABP4.

Matrix metalloproteinase-7 may serve as a novel biomarker for cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: The biological and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in cervical cancer remains unknown. Here, we investigated the function of MMP-7 in cervical cancer cells and evaluated its clinical significance in both tissues and serum from cervical cancer patients. METHODS: First, we analyzed the expression of MMP-7 in cervical cancer using Oncomine microarray data and examined its expression in cervical tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Second, we utilized gene silencing to explore the role of MMP-7 in cells. Finally, we examined the MMP-7 levels in patients with cervical cancer and normal serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, we further investigated the relationship between MMP-7 expression and pathological features. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein MMP-7 levels were higher in cervical cancer tissues than in healthy controls. Silencing of MMP-7 significantly decreased cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The serum MMP-7 levels were significantly higher in cervical cancer patients than in healthy subjects (P<0.01). Further, higher MMP-7 expression was associated with increased lymph metastasis (P=0.021), pathological grade (P=0.039, P=0.047), and clinical stage (P=0.049, P=0.046). CONCLUSION: MMP-7 appears to act as an oncogene in cervical cancer cells and is involved in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. MMP-7 expression was significantly higher in the tissue and serum of cervical cancer patients compared to healthy individuals and was correlated with increased pathalogical grade, clinical stage, and lymph metastasis. Therefore, our data provide novel evidence that MMP-7 may be a clinically relevant biomarker for cervical cancer.

Effects of CD44 and E-cadherin overexpression on the proliferation, adhesion and invasion of ovarian cancer cells.

CD44 is a prognostic indicator of shorter survival time in ovarian cancer. E-cadherin fragmentation promotes the progression of ovarian cancer. However, the effects of CD44 and E-cadherin overexpression on ovarian cancer cells have remained elusive. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of overexpression of CD44 and E-cadherin on cell proliferation, adhesion and invasion of SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells. Overexpression of CD44 and E-cadherin was achieved by transfecting SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells with viruses carrying the CD44 or E-cadherin gene, respectively. Expression of CD44 and E-cadherin was detected by western blot analysis. The proliferation of SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells was measured by a Cell Counting Kit-8 at 0, 24 and 48 h after viral transfection. The adhesion ability of SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells to the endothelial layer was detected. A Transwell invasion assay was utilized to assess the invasion ability of the cells. Overexpression of CD44 and E-cadherin in SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells was confirmed by western blot. Compared with the blank or negative control groups, the CD44 overexpression groups of SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells exhibited an increased cell proliferation rate at 24 and 48 h, whereas overexpression of E-cadherin did not alter the proliferation of these cells. Furthermore, compared with the blank and negative control groups, the cell adhesion and invasion ability in the CD44 overexpression groups of SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells was markedly higher. There were no significant differences in adhesion ability between the E-cadherin overexpression group and the blank/negative control group. Of note, overexpression of E-cadherin decreased the invasive ability of SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells. In conclusion, Overexpression of CD44 increased the proliferation, adhesion and invasion of ovarian cancer cells, while overexpression of E-cadherin decreased the invasion of ovarian cancer cells.

Knockdown of protein phosphatase 5 inhibits ovarian cancer growth in vitro.

Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of gynecological cancer-related mortality. Serine/threonine protein phosphatase 5 (PP5, PPP5C) has been recognized to be involved in the regulation of multiple cellular signaling cascades that control diverse cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, motility and apoptosis. In this study, to evaluate the functional role of PP5 in ovarian cancer cells, lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) was applied to silence PPP5C in the human ovarian cancer cell line CAOV-3. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell colony forming ability was measured by colony formation. Cell cycle progression was determined by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that lentivirus-mediated RNAi specifically suppressed the expression of PPP5C at the mRNA and protein levels in CAOV-3 cells. Further investigations revealed that PP5 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of CAOV-3 cells. Moreover, the cell cycle of CAOV-3 cells was arrested at the G0/G1 phase following PP5 knockdown. This study highlights the crucial role of PP5 in promoting ovarian cancer cell proliferation, and provides a foundation for further study into the clinical potential of lentiviral-mediated delivery of PP5 RNAi therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Carbetocin for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety profile of carbetocin with other uterotonic agents in preventing postpartum hemorrhage. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCOhost were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials published until September 2013. RESULTS: Carbetocin was associated with a significantly reduced need for additional uterotonic agents (RR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.55-0.84, I(2 )= 4%) compared with oxytocin in women following cesarean delivery. However, with respect to postpartum hemorrhage, severe postpartum hemorrhage, mean estimated blood loss and adverse effects, our analysis failed to detect a significant difference. Studies comparing carbetocin with syntometrine in women undergoing vaginal delivery demonstrated no statistical difference in terms of risk of postpartum hemorrhage, severe postpartum hemorrhage or the need for additional uterotonic agents, but the risk of adverse effect was significantly lower in the carbetocin group. CONCLUSIONS: Carbetocin has been associated with a similar low incidence of adverse effects to oxytocin and at least as effective as syntometrine and may become an alternative uterotonic agent for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. Further studies should be conducted to determine the safety and efficacy profile of carbetocin in women with cardiac disorders and to analyze the cost-effectiveness and minimum effective dose of carbetocin.

Silencing of MICAL-L2 suppresses malignancy of ovarian cancer by inducing mesenchymal-epithelial transition.

Ovarian cancer remains the disease with the highest associated mortality rate of gynecologic malignancy due to cancer metastasis. Rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton by cytoskeleton protein plays a critical role in tumor cell metastasis. MICAL-L2, a member of MICAL family, can interact with actin-binding proteins, regulate actin cross-linking and coordinate the assembly of adherens junctions and tight junctions. However, the roles of MICAL-L2 in tumors and diseases have not been explored. In this study, we found that MICAL-L2 protein is significantly up-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues along with FIGO stage and associated with histologic subgroups of ovarian cancer. Silencing of MICAL-L2 suppressed ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability. Moreover, silencing of MICAL-L2 prevented nuclear translocation of ß-catenin, inhibited canonical wnt/ß-catenin signaling and induced the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). Taken together, our data indicated that MICAL-L2 may be an important regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ovarian cancer cells and a new therapeutic target for interventions against ovarian cancer invasion and metastasis.